Southern California -- this just in

Barricaded Long Beach man charged with 15 felonies in shootings

July 9, 2012 | 1:28
pm

A Long Beach man suspected of shooting a code enforcement inspector and at police officers during a seven-hour standoff last week was charged with 15 felonies Monday, including attempted murder and assault.

The charges against Anthony Gorospe, 51, include three counts of attempted murder of a peace officer and a string of assault and weapons charges, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. He was scheduled to be arraigned in Long Beach Superior Court on Monday afternoon.

The shooting occurred about 8 a.m. Thursday when code enforcement officers arrived with police backup to serve an inspection warrant at what was described as a "blighted residence" in the 6100 block of John Avenue, Long Beach police said.

As the group stood in front of the house, the man allegedly fired a shot from inside, hitting one of the inspectors in the left eye, prosecutors said. The injury was not life-threatening and the officer is expected to recover.

Police said the man allegedly fired several shots throughout the standoff, at one point telling officers to shoot him.

SWAT officers eventually used tear gas to force the man out from the house. By 2:43 p.m. Gorospe exited the home and began to walk away, ignoring orders from officers to halt. He was tackled by a police dog and taken into custody. Authorities said he was treated for a dog bite.

Neighbors said the man's home and yard were filled with junk and other items, and the man has received several notices from the city to clean up the property. Long Beach police spokeswoman Nancy Pratt confirmed the residence "had been a problem for code enforcement over the past few years."

Gorospe, who has a drug conviction from 1989, faces "multiple life sentences" if convicted, officials said.